Any teachers with Y2k success stories in the classroom would be fully appreciated. What is the best method for each grade level? Curriculum ideas would also be appreciated.

Thanks

-M.C.

-- M.C. Davey (Apus1son@aol.com), September 29, 1998

Answers

M.C. -

Not a curriculum, but...

I put this together a while back after helping my son with his 7th-grade math homework.

Just my $.02...

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A Y2K "Story Problem"

Facts from the computer industry on programming productivity:

1. A typical experienced programmer can repair 100,000 to 125,000 lines per year (8,000 to 10,000 lines/month).

Facts from the parent company of Southwest Bell and Pacific Bell:

1. It has 300 million lines of code. 2. It has 300 typical experienced programmers working on the Y2K project.

Recent press release from the company has stated:

1. Its programmers required 30 months to repair its code.

Using the above facts, calculate one of the following:

1. the number of months required to repair the code, or 2. the lines per month reportedly repaired, based on the press release.

(Hint: To make calculations easier, use the higher programmer productivity number of 10,000 lines/month.)

Compare computer industry information with the information in the company's press release. Use critical thinking skills.

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-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), September 30, 1998.

As a group, list all of the systems that have to be working for you to get chicken nuggets and french fries served at your lunchroom.

Teacher's Hint: Start at the chicken house and potato farm, and think of everything needed to grow it, feed it, harvest it, ship it, store it, package it, process it, store it, ship it to the school, pay for it, pay for the taxes and utilities, then pay for the school workers, then cook it, and serve it, and clean up afterwards.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 01, 1998.

Dad you're weird. You should know that if normal kids were to decide what would happen with the school, the solution would be easy. There would be no school. Hey, if the grown-ups mess up, we're the victim's. At least we can benifit from it.

So in answer you shouldn't be figuring out what they will teach, but how long Christmas Break is. You can't teach in darkness and cold. this is January remember? Austrailia would be different. They are on summer break anyway. We on the other hand have the bus issue to figure out. How would students get to school. And even if they could ride with their parents, What if thAT car is not working.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 01, 1998.

Not a teacher, but a mom with 5 kids so this seemed a good place to share an experience. We have a compost pile, and the 4th grade science teacher heard (from youngest son in his class) and asked to bring his class to see it. Gross, huh? But okey-dokey. Was an ice breaker, and he and I started talking about the need for preparedness, regardless, and eased him into Y2K. THEN I got the idea, with my husband, to have a "Y2K Rehearsal Day" or weekend or whatever for the kids (and us) so they (and we) could see in practical terms what it meant to have no electricity, no running water, no food in the grocery stores, no way to access cash in the bank, no gas except what was in the car, and the need to ration that, etc. THAT would make an intersting project for school kids, I think.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 02, 1998.

No TV! God Help us all!!!

-- Jean Cook(Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 02, 1998.

That's amazing, Jean. That's exactly what MY kids said!! :-) (They also say - on a daily basis - "Dad, you're so weird." OK - Mom too.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 02, 1998.

Whereas my son (12) and daughter (14) said, "No TV... OK, long as we've got enough books!" Couldn't help but smile. They love the Idiot Box (as do I), but surprisingly (to me) seemed fine with teh idea of doing without for a month or longer. It did remind me to ensure that the library is well-stocked by mid-1999.

Sorry, Jean. Now I've given your Dad support for one of those "Well, so-and-so's kid is OK with it, why aren't you?" comments. Sorry. 8-}]

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), October 02, 1998.

I think Jean got her verb tense wrong in that comment:

"No TV! God helped us all."

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 02, 1998.

About the library issue, one comment. The libraries computers are going to shut down. Don't believe me just ask.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 03, 1998.

Go Mellisa's Kid's

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 03, 1998.

Jean - don't encourage the little buggers! :-)

BTW, another project might be sprouting. Was reading in the "Making the Best of Basics" tonight that a variety of seeds sprouted can supply virtually ALL of our nutritional needs, in a pinch. Even my TV-addicted 9 year old can rinse the sprouts on the kitchen counter and is fascinated to see how fast they grow.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 04, 1998.

Maybe someone could invent an edible "Chia Pet." :-)

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 04, 1998.

Would it fit in the microwave? How many ingredients are in a complete "Chia Pet"?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Hey we're going into "our awkard stage" we're supposed rebel. After all, you guys are going to be the cause of the loss of power. You could at least have the desenty to fix the cable so we kids won't be bored out of our wits when you guys struggle with whatever happens. But do you?Noooooooooooooooo! You worry about your cel phones.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Well, I think that you should have a little discussion in the high school and print stuff out so they can read it but, my opinion as a high school student is that if it werent for my mom i wouldnt really care but i do and i would really be interested if my school had a discussion about Y2K.But not alot of students really care they just blow it off like everything else. Morgan

-- Morgan (Y2KFever@aol.com), October 04, 1998.

Hey Morgan, I already do. Except I go to middle not high. I have a folder filled with stuff off of the internet. I take it to school and show it to my friends. We talk about in school during lunch. We have had four tables talking at one time and passing around that folder. We have had it for a week and I am already starting to look for another one.

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Jean Cook, Thats great,Im glad that the kids are interested in it. I try to talk about it on Aol and to my close friends but they dont understand.See i treid to get my little sisters school in it cause her and I know more than her teachers cause i brought up Y2k with her computer teacher at Open House and he had no clue and i told him to look into it and he did. Morgan

-- Morgan (Y2KFever@aol.com), October 04, 1998.

try reading Finding Uncle deedah

-- jean Cook(Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Well try chickens.com that might help with research. Morgan

-- Morgan (Y2KFever@aol.com), October 04, 1998.

Perhaps the pupil is pondering possiblilities persueing P.P. It stands for professional Percussionist. That means I hit things in time to music. Remember you hand should be hurting, you shouldn't hear under a dull roar. And you blisters on your hands,feet and any other part that got touched before you can walk out of a band room. i got to go so that I can put my dad to sleep see ya tomarrow sometime or another.

-- jean Cook, P.P. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 04, 1998.

Hi Melissa, Morgan,

Jean wanted me to let know she wants to write some tonight (Monday). You gonna be home?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 05, 1998.

Robert I didnt understand what you wrote about Jean, Im usually on every night sometimes during the day. Morgan

-- Morgan (Y2KFever@aol.com), October 06, 1998.

Yo' people I'm here, the time is 10:35 do you know where your morgan is? Hay is for horses but I'm calling you. I'll check this and Find Uncle Deedah every 15 minutes

-- Jean Cook (Kennesaw,GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 06, 1998.